Car-coupling



YA" G'ICLARK.

2 SheetSA-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

l GAR GOUPLING. No. 529,020.l

Patented Nov. 13, 1894.

.Nl l

j@ drws,

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

A.. G. CLARK. GAR GOUPLING.

No. 529,020. v Patented Nov'. 13', 1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT G. CLARK, OFv GLENDALE, OHIO.

cAR-coUPLlNG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 529,020, dated November 13, 1894.

Application led February 23, 1892. Serial No. 422,369. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT G. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Glendale, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Im provexnentsin Oar-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an automatic car-coupling capable of use with the couplings'now in use, and the invention consists in the parts and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure l is a perspective view of a car providedwith my improved coupling; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the coupling; Fig. 3, alongitudinal section of the draw-head; Fig. 4, a perspective view of one of the coupling` jaws, and Fig. 5, a perspective View of a car showing a modification of the mechanism for actuating the coupler.

A represents a car and B a draw-head provided with the usual bell mouth adapted to receive and guide the coupling link or bolt, and with apertures b adapted to receive pins for use with link couplings. The draw-heads are also provided with internal chambers b adapted to receive jaws O and O', one of which is movable,-the movable jaw in the exempliflcation being the upper and lettered C. The external surfaces of these jaws have curved or inclined faces c, forming a bell mouth, to which the bell mouth of the draw'- head serves as a guide. This bell mouth is adapted to open upon external contact with the head CZ of an arrow-headed coupling bolt D. The external surfaces of the jaws also have engaging faces c which may be flat or substantially so, adapted to engage with the end walls b2 of the chamber b. The coupling jaws are hollowed internally to form a chamber adapted to receive the head of the coup,

ling bolt. The walls c2 of this chamber are of such an angle or curve, relatively to that of the head ofthe coupling bolts, that longitudinal strain upon the coupling bolt will clamp the movable jaw against the front wall b2 of the chamber b', instead of raising it. The

Amovable jaw is provided with inclined bearings c3 adapted to travel upon an inclined way b3 in the draw-head.

E is alink connecting the movable jaw with .near the sides of the car, with weighted arms a chain F, or other flexible part, leading to a collar g, or its equivalent, upon a rockshaft G.

In Fig. l I have illustrated the rock shaft as vertical and leading to the top of the car, where it is provided with a hand-bar g', or its equivalent, by which it may be actuated.

H H are shafts leading to the sides of the car and connected with shaft G by gear wheels h hand g2. These shafts are provided at their outer ends with weighted arms g by which the rock shaft may be actuated and by which it 'will be automatically returned to its nor mal position after the coupling jaws. have been opened. I also provide the weighted arms with a crank arm h2 to which a cord h3 may be attached for convenience in actuating the rock shaft-the weights being preferably placed at such a height upon the car as to avoid danger of contact with the heads of employes working about the car.

In Fig. 5 the chain is connected with a crank arm g3 upon a horizontal rock shaft G provided at its ends, which are preferably g4 by which it may be actuated and automatically returned to its normal position.

H is a vertical shaft connected with rock shaft G by gear wheels h and g5 and carrying at its upper end a hand-bar h3 by which it may be actuated.

The operation is as follows: The couplingbolt being in position in one of the drawheads, the cars are brought together and the movable jaw' in the otherdraw-head is pressed 8 5 backwardly and upwardly upon its inclined way by the action of the head of the bolt. When the head of the coupling-bolt drops into the recess of the fixed jaw the movable jaw drops by gravity over thebolt head and 9o into its locking position.

With this construction cars may be readiiy and safely uncoupled when in motion.

I claiml. The combination of a draw-head, an arrow-headed bolt, a pair of jaws within the draw-head one of which is movable, an inclined way in the draw-head upon which the movable jaw may travel and means for withdrawing themovable jaw from its locking po- 1 oo sition, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of an arrow-headed bolt, a draw-head, a pair of jaws Within the draw-head one of which is movable, a rock Shaft, a flexible connection between the movable jaw and the rook shaft, and means for automatically restoring the rook shaft to its normal position, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination Aof an arrow-beaded bolt, a draw-head, a pair of jaws one of which is movable, an inclined Way inthe draw-head upon which the movable jaw is adapted to travel,a rook shaft, a flexible connection between the movable jaw and the rock shaft, and means for automatically restoring the rock shaft to its normal position, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination with an arrow-headed bolt, of the draw-head B provided with chamber b', the jaws C C', the link E, the chain F and the rook shaft G, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination of the draw-head B hav ing aperture b, the jaws C C', the link E, the chain F and the rcel: shaft Gf, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

G. The combination of the draw-head B, the jaws C C', the link E, the chain F and the reel; shaft G provided with Weights adapted to return it to its normal position, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

ALBERT G. CLARK.

Witnesses:

JAMES N. Riti/ism', U. W. FIGNER. 

